Patent GB-622937-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to the production of alcohols
IPC: C07B35/06
Filed: 1946-08-16
Abstract: In the production of monohydric aliphatic alcohols by reacting an olefine and water at elevated temperature in the presence of a catalyst containing the blue oxide of tungsten (see Group IV (b), the catalyst comprises material prepared by subjecting tungstic acid (WO3) or ammonium paratungstate, to a reduction treatment at an elevated temperature not more than 20 DEG  C. different from that at which the hydration reaction is to be carried out.  The catalyst may be prepared, for example, by adding a small amount of graphite to tungstic acid or ammonium paratungstate, pressing into pellets, preferably using a high pelleting pressure, e.g. 55 to 65 tons per square inch, and then reducing, or by precipitating tungstic acid on a carrier such as alumina gel or silica gel and then reducing.  The reduction may be effected by treating at the desired elevated temperature with a reducing gas such as hydrogen or carbon monoxide or mixtures thereof, or by treating with a lower monohydric alcohol, preferably containing not more than four carbon atoms, e.g. ethanol, and this treatment with alcohol may be followed by treatment with water while the catalyst is still at the elevated temperature.  The reduction and reaction steps are preferably effected at 220 DEG  C. to 350 DEG  C.  In examples, the catalyst is prepared by granulating tungstic acid in a mixer with the addition of water, the granules are dried and sieved, graphite powder added and the catalyst pelleted and then reduced in the vapour of ethanol at 250 DEG  C. at atmospheric pressure.ALSO:Monohydric aliphatic alcohols are produced by reacting an olefine and water at elevated temperature in the presence of a catalyst containing the blue oxide of tungsten, the catalyst comprising material which has been prepared by subjecting tungstic acid (WO3) or ammonium paratungstate to a reduction treatment at an elevated temperature not more than 20 DEG  C. different from that at which the hydration reaction is to be carried out.  The catalyst may be prepared, for example, by adding a small amount of graphite to tungstic acid or ammonium paratungstate, pressing into pellets, preferably using a high pelleting pressure, and then reducing, or by precipitating tungstic acid on a carrier such as alumina gel or silica gel and then reducing.  The reduction may be effected by treating at the desired elevated temperature with a reducing gas such as hydrogen or carbon monoxide or mixtures thereof, or by treating with a lower monohydric alcohol, preferably containing not more than four carbon atoms, e.g. ethanol, and this treatment with alcohol may be followed by treatment with water while the catalyst is still at the elevated temperature.  The reduction and reaction steps are preferably effected at from 220 DEG  to 350 DEG  C., particularly when reacting propylene or butenes with water to give the alcohols. In examples, tungstic acid is granulated in a mixer with the addition of water, the granules are dried and sieved, graphite powder added and the catalyst pelleted and then reduced in the vapour of ethanol at 250 DEG  C. and at atmospheric pressure.  The pressure in the reaction vessel is then raised to 250 atmospheres by introducing hydrogen, and then propylene and water preheated to 250 DEG  C. are introduced.  Reaction is first effected at 250 DEG  C. and then at temperatures of 230 DEG , 250 DEG  and 270 DEG  C., the propylene fed being converted to isopropanol.